Satin buzzed his way though the thin clouds over the dessert, his eyes evaluating the long expanse of dunes below. The sand stretched out for miles in all directions as the drone captain lead his squadron on patrol. The telekinesis was weak this far out from the hive but he had thankfully been able to get the orders. Strange orders to be honest, but orders from the Queen herself nonetheless. So he was still obliged to look for a magical two legged creature. For the most part all he saw was rocks and sand like always. He along with the his squadron kept on combing the desert for the creature, or anything really but they weren’t finding shit. Something reflective and shiny caught his eye. The flash standing out from the normally motionless sand. Satin gritted his Mandrils and he motioned to his squadron to head for the glint.
The anomaly in the sand in question was some kind of metallic cylinder sticking out of the sand. Satin lifted it up and tried to read the odd writing, the characters were uncanny and foreign to him. They reminded him of saddle Arabians with hints of Germaney. Satin rotated it around to look for any other clues as to the cylinders purpose. On the bottom he found a small hole, and as he tilted the can just right a few drips of liquid fell out. He used his long tounge and tasted the strange substance. He spit it out and cramped his tounge with his hoof. “Disgustingly sweet... what ever left this here might have seen the monster or Perhaps the creature itself did....Alright form up and spread out signal me when you see something!”
"Nothing but sand so far Captain!" Yelled a drone over the sound of beating wings.
Satin face hoofed. “WHAT PART OF DONT SIGNAL UNLESS YOU SEE SOMETHING DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND?!”
“S-sorry just wanted to establish a base line for communica- hold on, Captain, whats that over there!" yelled the same drone pointing in hopes of redemption.
Satin pivoted his head over to where the drone was pointing, and there, standing on top a sand dune holding a sword and jumping up and down was a strange creature that fit the description.
"Ok squad, V formation on me!” Barked Satin going into a dive as his troops fell in behind him.
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Celestia stood in the hallway outside of the up until recently “disaster” room. Now renamed and rebranded for the more sinister role that she had not had to use in eons. The War Room, after the changling invasion and various other attempts to destroy the Equestrian Empire. Once again it became nesasery for the peaceful kingdom to sharpen its swords, raise war banners and muster an army for defense. Celestia let out a half hearted sigh as she gazed down the windowless hallway at the heavy iron and oak doors illuminated by candles. The griffins to the north wanting back territory lost almost 2000 years ago, the buffalo refusing to let equestrian settlers reach their manifest destiny and the Damned C.R.A underground trying to form an independent Crystal state. She grumbled internally about the millstone of chaos that hung around her neck as she trod up to the door. The two guards on duty saluting her and opened the door. She walked in and made her way to the head of an ancient table to a chair. She sat down and looked out at the table with a spread of maps. The window that flanked her was covered with sealed shutters and the room was dim. It’s bit of light produced by the dying hearth that was fed by the guards outside and a couple of candles hanging from an iron chandelier. Celestia placed her hoof on the table and unrolled a map infront of her, it was the latest report from the recon. She looked at the map with prudence and grimaced. It was full of red "X's" and blocks representing search party's. All of them pointed back toward Cantorlot except one. She tapped it and prayed silently that they too came up with nothing. She then stood up and rolled up the map and headed back up to her private chambers where the elements of harmony rested on various bits of furniture. Celestia stood in her room and watched the peaceful forms of the elements of harmony as they slumbered exhausted from worry and pouring over the maps.
Why did this happen thought Celestia Two of my little ponies dead and the rest are scared Celestia banged her hooves into the floor out of frustration startling Rainbow Dash from her sleep.
"Huh- who's there!" Shouted Rainbow Dash flying up out of her seat, wakeing up everypony else in the room.
"Rainbow dear, calm down it's just the princess." Said Rarity sitting up straight and rubbing her eyes with a yawn.
"Sorry" said The blue mare rubbing the back of her head sheepishly. “Nerves I guess, got to be ready for when the big monster shows up! I can’t wait to give it a taste of my hoof!”
"It's quite alright" said Celestia "I shouldn't have woken you all up. Rainbow dash I appreciate your vigor but I beg you calm down.”
"It's OK we needed to talk anyway" said Twilight looking at her mentor with blood shot eyes, her fur matted and tear stained, mane unkempt.
"What is it my pupil?" Asked Celestia trying not to look directly at her depressed student.
"Can we take this to the hall?" She asked measly rubbing one leg and staring at the floor. "It's about this hunt for the creature," Twilight whispered to Celestia. Nodding an affirmative Celestia followed Twilight into the hall.
"Twilight I've told you the search parties could not find anything. Besides, it's probably been killed by the desert by now." Said the old mare.
"But what if it's not dead?" Twilight stammered. “It has to be brought to justice for what it did!”
"If it is not dead and buried by the shifting sands the last team would have found it by now." Said Celestia softly leaning in and hugging the mare all too aware of Twilight's recent loss.
"I... I suppose princess, the only thing left is to mourn and move on." Tears streamed silently down Twilight's face. "But, if that thing is still alive, I swear I will bring it to justice, I swear. It’s what Shining would have done, right?" she whimpered as she broke down, fully sobbing now into the Princess' coat.
"It’s ok Twilight. It's gone." She cooed, draping a wing around Twilight's back.
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Alex took a step back as the odd bug like horse things landed in front of him. They were jet black with blue eyes, and hoofs that looked like cheese. "Uh, hi odd pony things, odder than the ones before." Said Alex confused as he examines them. His pistol in one hand and sword in the other he licked his chapped lips as he attempted once more to use diplomacy.
''Did it just talk perfect glik-tk?'' Said Captain Satin.
"Yeah and you did too" Except I was speaking English..." Alex trailed off, more confused than scared of the desert ponies.
"glik-tk" repeated Satin
"English" said the man. "Now I need to go. I’m on a quest to find water. It was Nice meeting you odd talking desert ponies, bug things. That may or may not be mirages.”
“They aren’t Alex, they are very real.” Night says trying to soothe to twitchy man.
“Thanks for the input voice in my head” Alex snaps back at night.
"You need to come with us, the Queen wishes to speak with you!"said the odd pony.
“Like hell I am, last guy who...I think implied that to me got dropped. So unless you want to go home in a body bag you should beat it.” Alex says leveling his gun at the bugs.
"Go with them Alex" said the soft voice of Night. “You will die without their help.”
"I don’t need their help” whispered Alex as he really yelled it.
"This "Queen" might be an ally we could use. Plus you need water and food, A shower also wouldn't hurt."replied Night
"Thanks for the input Night sure saved my butt there! Don't want to stink them to death!"said Alex sarcastically back loud enough that the changelings could hear. “Give me one good reason I should comply!”
Satin felt a nudge from one of his squad mates. "What drone?"said satin in reply to the nudge.
"Should we do something? It has been arguing with itself for ten minutes." Said the same drone.
"Shut up" Replied Satin "creature you want water?"
"Yes, holy sweet illegal rock farm on fire do I." Said the odd creature, its water deprived brain acting on instinct.
"Then follow us to the Queen, that’s all the reason I got to give." Answered Satin
Night mentally face hoofed. "You didn't have to be this excited about it." said Night
“Fuck off night, hydration is fucking sexy.” Alex snears as he walks toward the bug pony.
Far above the desert on one of the few sparse clouds. A young Pegasus watched from above. The mare was named Ruby Wings and she peered through a telescope high above as the odd creature talked to the changelings. She looked down at a drawing of the creature she had been given then back through the telescope before gasping and almost dropping her telescope.
"Its friends with the changelings! The creature was sent by the Changelings! I need to report this to the Princess quick!" She said in a harsh whisper. “This is terrible! How did they get it on their side!?” She ponders to herself as she Stows away her telescope and flies off back to the capital.
Thirty minutes later Queen Chrysalis watched the odd creature before her eat old hard cheese and drink water like it was the best food and drink on Equis. She considered saying something but the way it ate and drank she just decided to watch for a couple of awkward minutes. The creature scarfed down the salty cheese and drank cup after cup of water so much so that a servant had to bring another bucket full. As soon as it began to slow the queen saw an opening and at up. She spoke with grandeur and a booming voice in the large throne room her words echoing off the skulls as she berated all ears with in. "Creature what are you and is what you have done true?"
"What?" Replied the creature.
"I said-
"I heard what you said I was just not sure of what you want me replying to."said the creature interrupting the Queen.
"Well then answer me when addressed!" yelled the Changeling Standing up from her stone throne. "Did you or did you NOT kill the Captain of the royal Guard?!”
"Was he the one in purple?" asked the confused creature.
Chrysalis sat back down with a thud as she stared down the hall past the creature as if trying to burrow her sight into the wall, her mouth slightly agape. He is really dead. thought Chrysalis looking at the famished beast before her.
"Creature....tell me, what are you, that you, a scrawny thing, are able to take down Captain Shining Armor of the Royal Guard." said Chrysalis breathlessly.
"I am man." Said Alex standing up, his new found full stomach and the absurdity of the situation before him getting the better of his more theatrical side. “I Work the earth before me into tools and with tools I can make weapons far stronger then the sword on my hip and the gun I slayed that purple horse with. “Said Alex locking eyes with the bug pony. "My name is Alex Cogs and all I seek is a way back home. So far you are the only one to show me kindness and I request your assistance, I will do anything for said way."
The queen stared at him for a moment before regaining composure and going back to her ussal self and thinking before grinning ear to ear as a plan hatched in her mind. "Then bow to me Alex Cogs, join me. I will house you and feed you. In return you must make me weapons you claim you can build.” Said Chrysalis counter staring into the eyes of the human. She watched him uncertain of what he would do. She tasted the fear and boldness in the air. Then he got on one knee and lowered his head to the floor.
What have I done though Alex as the Queen cackled from her throne.
“You have chosen wisely Man, you shall help me destroy my enemies and one day soon get you to your beloved home.”
Celestia sat on her throne an hour before her day court. Sun light streamed into the large room from stained glass windows. She sipped from her tea cup listening to the early morning chips of song birds preparing for the long day ahead. Celestia the heard the sound of galloping, she perked her ears and listened as it got ever closer a mare clearly yelling for the guards to make way. Then BANG in came Ruby Wings at full speed tilt panting and sweating. She tried to speak but wheezed and gasped hanging her head Untill shecaught her breath. The mare looked up at the princess and said two words Celestia feared more that anything.
“It's Alive.”